Unveiling the cancer risk nexus of the steatotic liver.

Steatotic liver escalates the risk of diverse cancers ranging from primary liver cancer to extrahepatic cancers and liver metastasis. Dysregulated hepatic lipid metabolism triggers hepatocyte damage and oxidative stress, resulting in steatotic liver-associated hepatocellular carcinoma. Extracellular vesicles, operating both locally and remotely, play a pivotal role in extrahepatic cancer development and liver metastasis in the context of steatotic liver. Steatotic liver remodels the tumor microenvironment, promoting tumor expansion through the involvement of M2 macrophages, and concurrently suppressing antitumor immunity. Recognizing steatotic liver as a cancer risk underscores the need for early detection, tailored management, and strategic interventions to improve patient outcomes. Steatotic liver, characterized by the accumulation of fat in the liver, poses significant health risks including metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and an elevated risk of primary liver cancer. Emerging evidence indicates a robust association between steatotic liver and increased susceptibility to extrahepatic primary cancers and their metastases. The deposition of fat induces dynamic changes in hepatic microenvironments, thereby fostering inflammation and immune responses that enhance liver metastasis from extrahepatic primary cancers. This review explores the impact of steatotic liver on hepatic carcinogenesis and metastasis from extrahepatic cancers, with a specific focus on hepatocyte-derived factors and the immune microenvironment. By emphasizing novel conclusions, this article underscores the timely relevance of understanding these intricate connections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]